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That wasn’t the only climate-related record the U.S. set in 2017, however: The country also experienced 16 weather and climate disasters that inflicted damages of $1 billion or more, which collectively cost a total of approximately $306 billion in losses – a new annual record for the U.S., NOAA reported.

“2017 will be remembered as a year of extremes for the U.S. as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, drought, fires and freezes claimed hundreds of lives and visited economic hardship upon the nation,” the agency said in a statement. “Recovery from the ravages of three major Atlantic hurricanes making landfall in the U.S. and an extreme and ongoing wildfire season in the West is expected to continue well into the new year.”

Based on a preliminary analysis of the data, NOAA scientists determined that the average annual temperature for the 48 contiguous U.S. states was 54.6 degrees Fahrenheit last year, about 2.6 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the 20th century average. That makes 2017 the third-warmest year in the 123 years since record keeping began in 1895, behind only 2012 (which was 55.3°F above the 20th century average) and 2016 (54.9°F above the average).

2017 will also go down as the third consecutive year that each of the contiguous U.S. states as well as Alaska had above-average annual temperatures. “Despite cold seasons in various regions throughout the year, above-average temperatures, often record breaking, during other parts of the year more than offset any seasonal cool conditions,” NOAA noted.

The U.S. has now experienced warmer-than-average annual temperatures for the past 21 straight years, or every year since 1997. All five of the hottest years on record for the contiguous U.S. have occurred since 2006.

While 2017 tied 2011 with 16 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, the more than $300 billion in damages the U.S. incurred in 2017 smashed the previous record of $215 billion in losses set in 2005, the year Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita all made landfall.

NOAA found that 326 people lost their lives as a direct consequence of the extreme climate and weather events of 2017.

“Some of the more noteworthy events included the western wildfire season, with total costs of $18 billion, tripling the previous U.S. annual wildfire cost record,” NOAA stated. “Hurricane Harvey had total costs of $125 billion, second only to Hurricane Katrina in the 38-year period of record for billion-dollar disasters. Hurricanes Maria and Irma had total costs of $90 billion and $50 billion, respectively. Hurricane Maria now ranks as the third costliest weather and climate disaster on record for the nation and Irma ranks as the fifth costliest.”

Map by
NOAA.
Flooding in Port Arthur, Texas, on August 31, 2017, six days after Hurricane Harvey made landfall. Photo Credit: U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel J. Martinez.

Deforestation is destroying life on Earth, reducing the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere & worsening climate change/ carbon accumulation/ pollution.. If Govts can't tighten restrictions on polluting industries or educate the masses on the importance of keeping old-growth forests intact, they should at least be authorized to seize all illegally-cut rosewood & sell it where demanded/needed most, then use that money to invest in local education/ sustainable business in the communities they govern. It would be madness to reward illegal loggers/ stash owners directly by paying for their cooperation/ stashes, which would only motivate corruptuon & further illegal logging. Instead of prosecuting however, offer incentives that involve them in their own environmental recovery/ education & help them to transition out of criminal activities into viable sustainable legit business that will boost engagement/ opportunities in their communities' economies/ morale --eg. Eco-tourism, selective harvesting, forest-friendly crops/planting that will provide ongoing income & possible international/new markets while leaving forests intact. .

What is it about China's 3,000 years of ecological civilisation that its people want to leave - its pollution of land, water and air? dodgy food? corruption? lack of low-risk investment opportunity? Are circumstances that much better where they relocate?